System for simultaneously perforating and re-enforcing the hole so made in sheet material for filing purposes



Dec. 28, 1965 R. P. VILLALON 3,226,283

SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PERFORATING AND RE-ENFORCING THE HOLE SO MADEIN SHEET MATERIAL FOR FILING PURPOSES Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Dec. 28, 1965 R. P. VILLALON 3,226,283

NEOUSLY PERFORATING AND RE-ENFORCING SYSTEM FOR SIMULTA THE HOLE SO MADEIN SHEET MATERIAL FOR FILING PURPOSES Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet2 /0 HMFM 1Z2???) [W MW WW United States Patent 3,226,283 SYSTEM FDRSIMULTANEOUSLY PERFORATING AND RE-ENFORCING THE HOLE S0 MADE IN SHEETMATERIAL FOR FILING PURPOSES Roberto Prieto Villalon, 56 Isaac PeralSt., Madrid, Spain Filed June 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,617 Claimspriority, application Spain, June 20, 1961, 268,421 9 Claims. (Cl.156-522) This invention relates to a method and means for perforatingand simultaneously reenforcing the hole so made in laminar or sheetmaterials for filing purposes, and in general in any kind of sheetmaterial that has to be securely held in elements provided with thenecessary fixing means passing through said perforations in the bordersthereof, such as blocks for notes, agendas, catalogues, copies ofcorrespondence, etc.

The reenforcing material used in this invention is adhesive tape of theusual commercial kind.

The principal object of this invention is the making of each perforationand its reenforcement by means of an assembly of four distinct devicesoperated as a unit by preferably one operational control coupled rigidlyor elastically to said devices. The operational phases involved are thepressing of the extremity of the reenforcing tape by means of a rigid orelastic element on to the border of the sheet element under treatment,while at the same time pressing the zone of the border thus treatedagainst the platform base of the apparatus situated underneath. Then thetape is extracted and fed from a roll to each of the zones thus treatedin equal and successive lengths, with the extraction being effectedduring the outward movement of the device performing this function,while the feeding is effected by the inward movement of the same devicetowards the operational zone of the border; Then the border zone bearingthe portion of adhered tape is perforated by means of a punch which isguided by and passes through the element pressing the tape reenforcedzone of the border on to the platform-base of the apparatus, this lattermentioned base being provided with a recess for accommodating thecutting extremity of said punch to produce a cleanly cut hole. Then theadhesive tape is cut off at the border of the sheet and complementarymeans are provided in the system to coordinate the functions of thedistinct integrating elements chronologically and geometrically duringeach and every successive cycle of operation, while means are alsoprovided for annulling the tape insertion device completely so that theapparatus will function as a punching machine only without tapereenforcement.

Another object of the invention is to provide the reciprocatingextraction and feeding device for the tape with an incorporated roll ofadhesive tape and a guide for feeding the unrolled portion to theoperational zone on the border of the sheet under treatment, or the tapeguide only is attached to the reciprocating device above mentioned whilethe roll of adhesive tape is separate from this device and is stationaryexcept for its unrolling motion. In both cases the roll of adhesive tapeis renewable, while the guide is so formed as to canalize the protrudingportion of the tape longitudinally with the concave side above or below,to provide it with the stiffness necessary to enter unhindered withinthe working zone between the foot of the pressure device and theplatform-base at each successive operation of reenforcement andpunching.

Among the possible variations in the order of succession of theoperational phases exercised by each of the component parts of theapparatus, it is preferred that the protruding extremity of the tape befirst of all pressed together with the border of the sheet undertreatment by the presser foot against the platform-base, whereupon theice tape guide immediately moves to its outer position, together withthe tape roll when this latter is mounted on the same support as theguide, but alone when said tape roll is mounted separately as mentionedabove, and in so doing unrolls a portion of tape from the roll, exactlysimilar in length to the piece already adhered to the border of thesheet under treatment and firmly imprisoned as already described,followed by the operations of cutting off the tape at the border and thepunching operation, which operations may be in successive order, eitherone before the other, or may be effected simultaneously.

As soon as the three operational devices, the pressure foot, the punchand the cutter have lifted sufliciently to allow the unhinderedinsertion of the next canalized measured protruding portion of tapebetween the pressure foot and the platform-base, the guide-feeder devicereturns to its initial position as in the previous operation, inpreparation for a repetition of the cycle of operations, while it shouldbe mentioned that the three operational devices above mentioned may takeplace in any order or simultaneously, the pressure foot being the lastto rise in order to aid in the clean withdrawal of the punch from theperforation in the reenforced sheet, and to take up its initialuppermost position ready for its next pressing operation.

A further object of the present invention allows the punching operationto be performed Without the introduction of the reenforcement tape, forwhich purpose the tape roll support with the guide, or the guide onlywhen the tape roll support is separate from and does not move with theguide, are rendered inoperative by means of an independent control whichmoves the guide and/ or without the tape roll completely out of thesphere of action of the tape insertion zone.

This invention allows two or more reenforced perforations to be madesimultaneously in the same border of a sheet, at equal r differentdistances apart, by a repetition of the number of essential partsconstituting the system herein described.

For a better understanding we will now describe some realisations of thesystem of a nonlimiting character by the help of the two sheets ofdrawings accompanying this specification.

FIGURES 1 to 5 illustrate diagrammatically sequential phases duringoperation of the invention.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 show diagrammatically a structural embodiment showingthe essential elements in sequential operation.

FIGURE 9 is a lateral view of a detail of the mechanism, and

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view of the retention device for the reel ofadhesive tape, together with a detail of its ratchet.

FIGURES 1 to 5 show schematically the essential elements comprising thesystem in five successive phases of one complete cycle, in whichrealisation the guide only makes the reciprocating extraction andfeeding movements, the tape roll remaining stationary.

In the drawings, S represents the presser foot for holding thereenforcing tape C, whereas G is the reciprocal guide, P is the punchfor perforating the reenforced border of the sheet under treatment T,While F is the cutter for cutting off the measured length of adhesivetape already stuck to the sheet T, R is the support for the tape roll C.The platform base A is provided with the: recess 0 for accommodating thecutting extremity of the punch P after passing through the reenforcedsheet. The spring M presses on the presser foot S and also returns thepunch P and the cutter F to their initial positions.

FIGURE 1 shows the relative positions of the elements at the beginningof a cycle of operations, where the protruding piece of adhesive tape Cfrom the guide G is in position with the guide G in its innermostposition.

FIGURE 2 shows the punch P partially descended and also the cutter Fneither of which has yet fulfilled its mission, while the presser foot Shas descended and forced the adhesive tape against the border of thesheet T imprisoning both between the foot S and the platform-base A.

FIGURE 3 shows the guide G having moved to its outer position and in sodoing unrolled a measured portion of tape from the stationary roll Rwhich has turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, the extremityof the tape being firmly held as in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 shows the punch P and the cutter F at the end of theirdescending strokes, the reenforced border having been perforated and thetape cut off at the border of the sheet, the protruding portion of tapefrom the guide G now having a canalized form which stiffens it andobliges it to become horizontal, in readiness for insertion whenconditions as shown in the next position have been established.

FIGURE 5 shows that the presser foot S, the punch P and the cutter Fhave risen sufficiently to allow the extremity of the adhesive tape C totake up the position as shown in FIGURE 1, upon which the guide G movesin to its innermost position, thus completing one cycle of operations.

As previously mentioned, the tape is given a canalized form upon passingthrough the guide G to stiffen it, while the adhesive side of the tapeis facing the platform-base A.

FIGURES 6 to 10 refer to a possible realisation of this invention inwhich the different elements are shown in more detail, the tape roll inthis case being carried on the same support as the guide, so makingsimilar reciprocal movements, so that R and G move in unison.

For claritys sake, some of the elements are shown sep- 'arated fromtheir normal working positions, so that in the FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, thepoints E and E coincide normally while the U sections marked U are shownseparated but coincide normally when E and E coincide.

Referring to FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 in combination with FIGURE 9, two guidesGP, GP are shown for guiding the punch P, while U is the control tie baruniting all the punches comprising the apparatus as will be understoodfrom FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, said control tie bar sliding up and down inslots formed in the lateral supports of the guides GP, GP. The guide andtape roll support B is articulated at E to a support made solid with thelateral supports of the guides before mentioned and approximately levelwith the upper guide GP, said support B making the reciprocativemovements for the extraction and feeding of the adhesive tape.

C indicates the adhesive tape and T the sheet under operation. Theplatform-base A is provided with the die recess 0 to receive the cuttingextremity of the punch P, while F indicates the cutter for cutting offthe already adhered tape.

The support B which carries the tape roll R and the guide G is providedwith a roller X for the adhesive tape, and a projection on which thecontrol tie bar U operates, and finally a limiting stop K for thereciprocating movement of the piece B.

FIGURE 9 shows at H the space between the pressurefoot and theplatform-base A for the insertion of the sheet under treatment.

FIGURE 10 shows schematically a possible solution by catch mechanism forthe piece B to regulate eventual retention of same in the returnposition, comprising an opening formed in the respective lateral strutof the chassis containing a leaf spring I, shown in the drawing, theplate B in section with the limiting stop K on the interior face of same(shown in plan view in FIGURE 10). When the control tiebar U upondescending bears against the prolongation of the piece B, FIGURE 8, thislatter piece turns about the pivot point E, and the limiting stops Koccupies the distinct positions shown in FIGURE 10 in the front view ofsame, where the leaf spring J is indicated also in the upper leftposition corresponding to the position of B in the FIGURE 6; whenoperator presses on the control tiebar, the limiting stop descends withthe piece B to the lower left position shown in FIGURE 10, andcorresponding to the position of B in FIGURE 7; when the piece B turnsunder pressure from the tiebar U, FIGURE 8, K takes up the positionlower right, overcoming thereby the leaf spring J, and when pressure isremoved from the control tiebar, during the recuperation cycle, thepiece B ascends vertically, while K passes from the lower right to theupper right position, but while moving, the projection from the leafspring I prevents the forward oscillation of B, which period correspondsto the recuperation position of the remaining devices, and as soon asthe limiting stop K reaches the said upper right position, the leafspring obstacles of J is passed, so that B by gravity may oscillate inadvance and line up the protruding piece of tape from its guide G.

The canalizing of the protruding end of the tape C to render it rigid iseffected in this example by means of a transverse element mountedelastically on the roller X to curve the tape with the convex side aboveor below at will.

The whole of the piece B may be dismounted to change or renew the taperoll R.

The realization herein shown functions as follows: In FIGURE 6, all theelements are at rest and the tape protrusion C is situated in theworking zone between the presser-foot, or the lower arm of the piece S,and the platform A. Upon pressing the control bar U downwards, thesolidly coupled punch P begins to descend also, as also does the piece Swhose lower horizontal portion makes contact with the tape and thislatter with the sheet under treatment, but without varying the positionof the other elements, spring M, cutter F and the piece B.

The control tiebar U and the punch P, upon continuing their descent andovercoming the action of the spring M, seeing that the piece S cannotdescend further, said punch P perforates the conjoint assembly of tapesheet, but at the same time the control tiebar U obliges the piece B toretrocede together with the guide G. Since the end of the tape is firmlyheld, this extracts another measured length of tape from the roll whichturns on its spindle for such purpose, while F makes the cuttingoperation immediately before B occupies its maximum return position.

Upon pressure being released from the control tiebar, the spring Mpushes it upwards to its initial position together with the punch P,while the spring raises the cutter also, but the piece B momentarilystill retains its retroceded position, and returns to its initialposition as previously explained in the functioning of the catchmechanism, or when S, P and F have cleared the working zone, thisforward or inward oscillation being possible by the piece B because thecontrol tiebar is not pressing on the protrusion piece of the said pieceB.

Any of the realisations of the invention herein given may be adapted forthe punching opera-tion only, for which purpose a fork-piece is providedon the front face of the platform A, not shown in the drawing, movablein a parallel direction to its two branches which extend upwards at thesides of the chassis, or in loose contact with the respective exteriorsurfaces of the strut supports, which fork-piece, when occupying theforward position in the apparatus, does not intervene in the movement ofthe piece B, but upon being displaced toward the rear, oblige the pieceB to recede and to hold it in that position while the perforations inthe sheet material are effected where reinforcements are not required.

The foregoing realizations concretely describe two simultaneousperforations, but a multiplication of the individual devices will allowperforations to be made in two or more positions, or such groupings ofthe devices may be arranged to be displaced laterally to make regularlyspaced perforations, either by establishing definite and fixed spacingsbetween the various devices or arranging some fixed and some movable,but a simple control is preferred by means of which the individualdevices are separated by constant subdivisions.

The front of the platform is covered with a removable plaque, preferablyflexible, to collect all the scrap material proceeding from the cuttingand punching operations.

The whole machine is covered with a suitable casing, and may be of anysize, while it is well understood that the examples herein given are ofa nonlimiting character, while any alterations may be made which stillretain the essential characteristics of the invention, which will all beincluded within the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for simultaneously perforating and reinforcing an aperturein sheet material comprising a fixed platform having a hole forsupporting a sheet, means for feeding a strip of reinforcing adhesivetape to a predetermined position above said sheet over said hole, meansfor pressing said adhesive tape against said sheet to apply said tape tosaid sheet, a punch for perforating said sheet cooperating with saidhole, means normally urging said punch to initial position away fromsaid sheet, a cutter connected to said punch for cutting off a length ofsaid tape when said punch is depressed, means for supplying saidadhesive tape cooperating with said punch and cutter, means forextracting an additional length of tape from said supplying means whensaid adhesive tape and said sheet are pressed together, said cuttercutting said strip of tape adjacent the border of said sheet when saidpunch is depressed to perforate said tape and sheet whereby said meansfor feeding a strip of reinforcing adhesive tape feeds, said additionallength of tape above said hole when said punch and cutting means arewithdrawn by said means normally urging said punch to initial position.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding and supplymeans are removable to facilitate the renewal of adhesive tape supply,and wherein means are provided to reciprocate said feeding meansrelative to said platform, said feeding means making said reciprocatingmotion while the tape supply remains stationary and means for giving acanalized form to the extremity of the tape longitudinally to providesufiicient stiffness for the tape to move above said sheet.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the rotational order ofsuccession of the operational phases, beginning with the gripping of theextremity of the reenforcing adhesive tape protruding from a guide, andpressing it together with the sheet material against said platform;followed immediately by the outward movement of the extractor-feedermeans, the guide unrolling a length of tape from the roll equal inlength to the portion already stuck on the border of the sheet material,and finally followed by the cutting off operation of the tape adhered tothe sheet under treatment, the punching operation occurringsimultaneously with that of any of the other operations.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterised by the fact that therecuperation of all the devices to their initial positions may be in areverse order to that of the period of activity, or altering theirsuccession or rendering two or more individual recuperationssimultaneous, except that of the extractor-feeder device for the tape,which is momentarily retained in its receded position in relation to therecuperation of the other devices, and cannot advance to its initialposition until all the other devices intervening in the system haverisen sufliciently so as not to hinder the introduction of the extremityof the tape protruding from the guide, which extremity was extractedduring the period of activity, the feeding of the tape by the systembeing effected during this period, when all the devices have recoveredtheir initial positions.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterised by the possibility ofusing the apparatus as a perforator only, for which purpose anindependent auxiliary control only when the roll is stationary, obligesthe carrier to clear the working zones from their respective tapeextremities protruding from their respective guides, and to maintainsaid guides in the receded position until the system has carried out itseventual perforation operation only.

6. A device according to claim 1, characterised by the face that bymeans of an appropriate distribution of the groupings of the ditferentdevices for pressing and holding, tape extraction, alignment, punchingand cutting, it is possible to realise simultaneously, two or moreperforations with their corresponding reenforcements.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterised by the.

fact that the groupings of two or more devices, or one only, forperforating and reenforcing, may be permanently connected together tothe base of the apparatus, or be adjustable in their distances the onefrom another, or some may have fixed relative distances while others maybe adjustable in their distances from the relatively fixed ones.

8. A device according to claim 1, characterised by the preferentialemployment of a single control for the whole of the groupings, while itis possible to provide independent controls for each grouping or any twoor more grouping.

9. A device according to claim 1, in which the front part of the lowerface of said platform is provided with a collector of the trimmings andscrap materials proceeding from the punching and cutting operations,such collector being preferentially a plastic elastic encirclingreceptable around the exterior of the platform, which may at the sametime serve as a shock absorber and protector for the surface of thetable or stand on which the apparatus is kept and operated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,715 7/1915Gall 156-513 2,228,372 1/1941 Stuhlinger 156-530 2,441,821 5/1948Kendall 156530 2,512,822 6/1950 Barsh -1 156-530 3,028,795 4/1962 Hughes156530 3,132,063 5/1964 Koss 156513 FOREIGN PATENTS 247,591 6/1912Germany.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PERFORATING AND REINFORCING AN APERTUREIN SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING A FIXED PLATFORM HAVING A HOLE FORSUPPORTING A SHEET, MEANS FOR FEEDING A STRIP OF REINFORCING ADHESIVETAPE TO A PREDETERMINED POSITION ABOVE SAID SHEET OVER SAID HOLE, MEANSFOR PRESSING SAID ADHESIVE TAPE AGAINST SAID SHEET TO APPLY SAID TAPE TOSAID SHEET, A PUNCH FOR PERFORATING SAID SHEET COOPERATING WITH SAIDHOLE, MENAS NORMALLY URGING SAID PUNCH TO INITIAL POSITION AWAY FROMSAID SHEET, A CUTTER CONNECTED TO SAID PUNCH FOR CUTTING OFF A LENGTH OFSAID TAPE WHEN SAID PUNCH IS DEPRESSED, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING SAIDADHESIVE TAPE COOPERATING WITH SAID PUNCH AND CUTTER, MEANS FOREXTRACTING AN ADDITIONAL LENGTH OF TAPE FROM SAID SUPPLYING MEANS WHENSAID ADHESIVE TAPE AND SAID SHEET ARE PRESSED TOGETHER, SAID CUTTERCUTTING SAID STRIP OF TAPE ADJACENT THE BORDER OF SAID SHEET WHEN SAIDPUNCH IS DEPRRESSED TO PERFORATE SAID TAPE AND SHEET WHEREBY SAID MEANSFOR FEEDING A STRIP OF REINFORCING ADHESIVE TAPE FEEDS, SAID ADDITIONALLENGTH OF TAPE ABOVE SAID HOLE WHEN SAID PUUNCH AND CUTTING MEANS AREWITHDRAWN BY SAID MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID PUNCH TO INITIAL POSITION.